With Israel politically paralyzed, Hamas wants deal now
The IDF is recommending relief measures for the Gaza Strip, but with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicted and with new Defense Minister Naftali Bennett preparing for elections, there is no one to make the call.
Twelve years have gone by since Hamas overthrew the ruling Fatah movement in Gaza, years during which the conflict with Israel intensified. Now, however, following numerous rounds of fighting, the Hamas leadership appears truly interested in reaching a long-term arrangement with Israel. Israeli security officials identify clear signs that the rulers of the enclave are seeking long-term calm.
The first significant indication was Hamas' decision to sit out the violent clash between Israel and Islamic Jihad following the Nov. 12 killing of its commander in northern Gaza, Bahaa Abu el-Atta. Despite sharp criticism in Gaza, Hamas did not take part in firing hundreds of rockets at Israel.
A second significant indication was the group’s recent cancellation of scheduled protests along the border with Israel, demonstrations that Hamas has sponsored since they began in March 2018 and turned into a major deterrent to Israel. Over the past two weeks, on Hamas' instructions, organizers have scrapped the demonstrations.
The move does not mean the Hamas leadership has concluded that the protests are no longer useful. For the past 18 months, the demonstrations have enabled Hamas to draw unprecedented domestic and global attention to its struggle against Israel, albeit with a large number of casualties. However, Hamas is now convinced that the time has come to ease tensions and move ahead with a deal. Israel’s security agencies have understood the signals and recommended to the political echelons additional easements of Israel’s chokehold on Gaza.
